KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel and Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya have both been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Kirtipur Burn Hospital following an accident in Pokhara on Saturday, where both people’s representatives sustained burn injuries to their faces.
The duo was injured when a cluster of balloons burst and caught fire after coming into contact with sparks from nearby sparklers during the inauguration ceremony of Pokhara Visit Year 2025.
According to SP Shyam Babu Oliya, chief of Kaski District Police Office (DPO), following the incident, the minister and the mayor were initially rushed to the Gandaki Medical College (GMC) Hospital, where they received primary treatment for their burn wounds. However, their wounds could not be treated completely at the hospital.
FinMin Paudel and Pokhara Mayor suffer burn injuries, airlifte...
As a result, the duo was airlifted from GMC Hospital to Kirtipur Burn Hospital for further treatment. According to Finance Minister Poudel's Press Advisor Bhuwan KC, the minister was airlifted to Kirtipur Burn Hospital around 3 p.m. on Saturday. Minister Poudel's palms and face have sustained burn injuries.
However, Press Advisor KC informed Republica that Minister Poudel is currently out of danger but is receiving additional care at the burn hospital for a speedy recovery.
Following an initial examination of the burn wounds sustained by the duo, Kirtipur Burn Hospital has decided to keep them under intensive care, as they could potentially develop complications after sustaining injuries to their windpipes and lungs.
Issuing a press release on Saturday evening, Kirtipur Burn Hospital Director Dr. Kiran Nakarmi said that both were admitted to the hospital and are currently undergoing treatment.
“Our preliminary examination has shown that the duo has sustained 5-6% burn injuries, but they have sustained burn injuries on their faces, which could result in complications of the windpipe and lungs,” the statement read. “Therefore, it seems that they need to be moved to the ICU for further treatment.”
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Health Minister Pradip Paudel and other well-wishers and party leaders and cadres visited Minister Paudel and Mayor Acharya at the hospital on Saturday to inquire about their health condition.
